What underlies successful word problem solving? A path analysis in sixth grade students

Two component skills are thought to be necessary for successful word problem solving: (1) the production of visual-schematic representations and (2) the derivation of the correct relations between the solution-relevant elements from the text base. The first component skill is grounded in the visual–spatial domain, and presumed to be influenced by spatial ability, whereas the latter is seated in the linguistic–semantic domain, and presumed to be influenced by reading comprehension. These component skills as well as their underlying basic abilities are examined in 128 sixth grade students through path analysis. The results of the path analysis showed that both component skills and their underlying basic abilities explained 49% of students’ word problem solving performance. Furthermore, spatial ability and reading comprehension both had a direct and an indirect relation (via the component skills) with word problem solving performance. These results contribute to the development of instruction methods that help students using these components while solving word problems.     

Coherence estimate between a random and a periodic signal: Bias, variance, analytical critical values, and normalizing transforms

The present work deals with recent results on the sampling distribution of the magnitude-squared coherence (also called just coherence) estimate between a random (Gaussian) and a periodic signal, in order to obtain analytical critical values, alternative expressions for the probability density function (PDF) as well as the variance and bias of the estimate. A comparison with the more general case of coherence estimation when both signals are Gaussian was also provided. The results indicate that the smaller the true coherence (TC) values the closer both distributions become. The behaviour of variance and bias as a function of the number of data segments and the TC is similar for both coherence estimates. Additionally, the effect of a normalizing function (Fisher's z transform) in the coherence estimated between a random and a periodic signal was also evaluated and normality has been nearly achieved. However, the variance was less equalized in comparison with coherence estimate between two Gaussian signals.     

Institutional bridging: change projects as creators and carriers of knowledge

This is a historical study of organizational change projects based on documents as the primary data source. It covers a period of 15 years (1985–2000) at an offshore construction yard. The study shows that change agents created links between new and former projects when they prepared, introduced, and motivated employees for ‘yet another’ change project, a process coined as ‘institutional bridging.’ The bridges served both as legitimation of the new project and as a means to carry forward practices, values, and knowledge. For practicing managers and change agents, this finding implies that disruptive change may be avoided if one succeeds in building bridges between sequential change projects. Then planned change may serve both as carriers and as creators of organizational knowledge. Theoretically, the study contributes to the discussion of organizational carriers and how organizations continue and develop identity in contexts characterized by uncertainty and change.     

Towards a method to disseminate knowledge from the post project review

In this paper we review several issues associated with post project review and dissemination of knowledge in information technology projects. We reflect on our practice of coaching project teams. In identifying the role of social pressure in forming teams’ perception of their performance, we suggest what could potentially be an interesting and fruitful avenue of future research on an approach to post project review and dissemination of knowledge in organizations.     

Understanding expert systems applications from a knowledge transfer perspective

Expert systems (ESs) were introduced more than two decades ago, but their effectiveness and success are still in debate. This paper attempts to make a contribution to the better understanding of ES applications from a knowledge transfer perspective. This paper argues that an ES application is knowledge transfer that uses Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Underpinned by knowledge transfer theories and through a series of empirical investigations of ES projects in agriculture, this study recognises the importance of human interactions in the ESs implementation process. Based on the evidence collected, a number of key players are examined. They are knowledge provider/sender, knowledge engineer, knowledge extensionist and knowledge recipient. This paper represents a first attempt to acknowledge the role of a knowledge extensionist in the ICT-based knowledge transfer process. The name ‘extensionist’ is borrowed from earlier literature and describes an actor whose role is an intermediary in supporting transferring knowledge towards the knowledge user. Findings demonstrate the significant contributions made by extensionists towards the success of ESs applications. It is argued that the rigidity and limitations of ESs in ICT-based knowledge transfer can be significantly reduced with the involvement of close human interactions with the knowledge recipient.     

Online diaries: Reflections on trust,privacy, and exhibitionism

Trust between transaction partners in cyberspace has come to be considered a distinct possibility. In this article the focus is on the conditions for its creation by way of assuming, not inferring trust. After a survey of its development over the years (in the writings of authors like Luhmann, Baier, Gambetta, and Pettit), this mechanism of trust is explored in a study of personal journal blogs. After a brief presentation of some technicalities of blogging and authors’ motives for writing their diaries, I try to answer the question, ‘Why do the overwhelming majority of web diarists dare to expose the intimate details of their lives to the world at large?’ It is argued that the mechanism of assuming trust is at play: authors simply assume that future visitors to their blog will be sympathetic readers, worthy of their intimacies. This assumption then may create a self-fulfilling cycle of mutual admiration. Thereupon, this phenomenon of blogging about one’s intimacies is linked to Calvert’s theory of ‘mediated voyeurism’ and Mathiesen’s notion of ‘synopticism’. It is to be interpreted as a form of ‘empowering exhibitionism’ that reaffirms subjectivity. Various types of ‘synopticon’ are distinguished, each drawing the line between public and private differently. In the most ‘radical’ synopticon blogging proceeds in total transparency and the concept of privacy is declared obsolete; the societal gaze of surveillance is proudly returned and nullified. Finally it is shown that, in practice, these conceptions of blogging are put to a severe test, while authors often have to cope with known people from ‘real life’ complaining, and with ‘trolling’ strangers.     

The hypothesis testing knowledge blend

The creation of several forms of knowledge that would enable organizations to ask and say the right things during complex diagnoses is proposed. Based on the concept of knowledge combustion, the hypothesis testing knowledge blend (HTKB) is the cognitive equivalent of petrol for the combustion engine. The HTKB requires the creation of a knowledge hybrid that uses existing technologies to ask and say the right things. In addition to timing mechanisms and problem space maps, two forms of declarative knowledge (directions and explanations) are integrated to create the HTKB. These directions and explanations would be obtained directly from the video recordings of diagnosticians conducting teleconsultations. By providing these profound dialogues during the conduct of complex diagnoses, the HTKB should increase the knowledge capital of organizations. Formal analyses are beginning to validate the conceptual structure (blue print) presented in this paper, and the results will be provided in the future.     

Defining the problem: key element for the success of knowledge management

The objective of this paper is to propose a methodology for applying knowledge management (KM), in which we first focus on explaining problematic areas of an organization by identifying the knowledge core process, before applying KM strategies to those processes. For the methodology, we lean on the larger context of systems thinking to help visualize the whole organization, and it is here that the key factors are identified and a set of strategic criteria is established. The most important criteria are then used to evaluate the associated processes and their respective tasks in order to establish the problematic areas or opportunities where KM initiatives can be applied. This strategy precludes tackling all the organization's problems and allows management to focus on only those processes that provide significant and manageable knowledge. Finally, this study explores and cautiously recommends an unexploited but valuable element to be taken into account when implementing KM initiatives.     

Instance-based cognitive mapping: a process for discovering a knowledge worker's tacit mental model

This paper addresses tacit-to-explicit knowledge externalization, arguably the most critical, and yet problematic, phase of Nonaka's knowledge creation theory. Specifically, we propose and describe instance-based cognitive mapping (ICM), a unique externalization process that analyzes multiple decision instances using the inductive learning algorithms of artificial intelligence to generate a polynomial representation of the knowledge worker's mental model, explicitly relating how the knowledge worker implicitly selects and weighs key factors in making decisions within a specific problem domain. After reviewing current externalization techniques, we describe the characteristics, and evaluate the advantages, of the ICM process. An exploratory test of the process suggests that inductive learning algorithms, such as the group method of data handling, can be used to discover a reasonable polynomial estimate of a knowledge worker's tacit mental model. This estimate can then be compared with other explicit models and standards, updated with new information and knowledge, and internalized by all interested knowledge workers.     

‘Think of others’ in knowledge management: making culture work for you

Knowledge management has an important role to play in both organizational and national cultures. In order to have a paradigm shift from a knowledge hoarding to a more knowledge-sharing culture, knowledge management should be used as part of the human capital strategy for the organization. The impact of culture on knowledge management has been studied widely, but little has been written on how knowledge management can affect organizational culture. This paper provides a thought-piece on addressing this overlooked area.